Horace Bristol (1908-1997) was a prominent American photojournalist whose work for Life and Fortune magazines defined the visual narrative of mid-20th century America and Asia. He is most recognized for his powerful documentary photographs of Dust Bowl migrants in California’s Central Valley, a project he undertook with author John Steinbeck, whose research later inspired the novel The Grapes of Wrath. Bristol’s compassionate and humanistic approach captured the grit and resilience of those struggling during the Great Depression. His career also included a crucial role as a naval photographer during World War II, where he documented battles under the direction of Edward Steichen. After the war, he established the East-West Photo Agency in Japan, continuing to document life across Asia. Bristol’s legacy is defined by his ability to capture intimate human moments within the grand sweep of history, and his work is held in major collections, including the Getty Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
